Fifth-wheel



(No Model.)

WITNESSES I. CORNWELL.

Fl FT H W H E E L (Application filed Mar. 7. 1898.)

Patented Sept. I3, 1898.

1L Oak 4 INVENTOR ISAAC CORNWELL, OF NORTHU MBEBLAND, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIFTH-=WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 610,643, dated September 13, 1898.

Application filed March 7, 1898- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC OoRNwELL, a resident of Northumberland, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvementin fifth-Wheels for vehicles, and more particularly to an improved antirattler therefor, the object of the invention being to provide an antirattler which can be readily applied to any fifth-wheel of any size in cross-section.

A further object is to provide an antirattler for fifth-wheels which shall be simple and durable in construction, which shall be cheap to manufacture, which shall be neat in appearance, and which shall be effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to so construct an antirattler for fifth-wheels that the springs will not be subjected to wear, and hence remain in perfect working order as long as the wheel is in use on the vehicle, so that the springs will be protected and so that they will be prevented from becoming loose and rattling.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claim. 7 p

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a view of a fifth-wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a view of a slight modification.

A represents the upper member, and B the lower member, of the fifth-wheel, and are made of the usual ring-like form and both preferably rounded or semicircular in crosssection. The upper member is provided near its ends with seats 1 for the reception of the bolster, and at points in proximity to its center said upper member A is provided with lugs 2 for the attachment of the reach.

At its center the upper member of the fifthwheel is provided with perforated lugs 3 3, which are preferably made integral therewith and project therefrom in opposite directions. Bolts 4 are passed through the holes in the erial No. 672,879. (No model.)

lugs or cars and have their heads countersunk at the upper ends of said holes, so as to be flush with the upper faces of the lugs or ears. The bolts 4 depend from the lugs or ears 3 and are adapted to passthrough pockets 5 at the respective ends of a clamp 6. The clamp is made to bear against the lower face of the lower memberB of the wheel and conform to the shape thereof, which in Fig. 2 is rounded in cross-section. The central portion of the clamp 6 is preferably broadened somewhat, as shown at 7, whereby to extend the bearing of the clamp against the said lower member B. In the case of a fifth-wheel having a lower member which is rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3, the face of the clamp which bears against it Will be made fiat, as shown in Fig. 3, instead of rounded, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends 8 of the clamp form bosses which are disposed at each side of the member B and, in effect, embrace the same, terminating at their upper ends a short distance from the under faces of the lugs or ears 2 on the upper memberA of the fifth-wheel. The bolts 4 are adapted to extend somewhat below the under face of the clamp 6 for the reception'of nuts 9. Coiled springs 10 are placed within the pockets 5 in the enlarged ends of the clamp 6 and bear, respectively, against the upper ends of said pockets and the nuts 9. The springs will thus be protected and will maintain the clamp against the fifth-wheel without being subjected to wear and with su fficient pressure to prevent the members of the fifth-wheel from rattling.

My improvements can be readily made to fit any fifth-wheel on the market and can be adapted for fifth-wheels of different sizes in cross-section.

My improvements are also simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, neat in ap pearance, and effectual in all respects in the performance of their functions.

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein setforth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

of said clamp having laterally-projectin g portions bearing against the under face of the lower member of the fifth-wheel, bolts passing through said lugs and bosses, coiled springs encircling said bolts within the sockets of the bosses, and nuts on said bolts, said nuts overlapping said sockets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC OORNl/VELL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM T. HENCH, GEORGE FERTIG. 

